Patent Application
20070125097
This document claims priority to French Application Number 05 12431, filed Dec. 7, 2005, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/751,970, filed Dec. 21, 2005, the entire content of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The invention relates to a cooling device for a product. In one example, the device relates to a dispenser for a cosmetic product and also relates to a packaging and dispensing assembly for such a product imparting a refreshing effect upon application.
It is desirable in certain cases to cool a cosmetic product for its application so as to enhance the effect thereof or to impart a sensation of freshness and comfort during application.
For this reason, when a user wishes to apply a pre-cooled cosmetic product onto his or her skin, the product is sometimes kept in a household refrigerator. When the product needs to be applied away from a household refrigerator, the pre-cooled product warms up rapidly, in particular when the ambient temperature is elevated, so that the product no longer imparts the refreshing effect sought.
Various types of packaging and dispensing assemblies exist that can be used to apply a cooled product. In this context, reference may be made to WO 2004/10 0704, which describes a cosmetic product dispenser used to apply a freshening product, and the dispenser is equipped with its own cooling device. The dispenser includes a first container holding the product to be applied and a second container holding a refrigerant gas. The product to be dispensed flows via a coiled tube to a dispensing aperture. The refrigerant gas flows through an annular conduit surrounding the product dispensing tube so as to cool the tube and the product contained therein while the product is being dispensed. The volume of product circulating in the tube is relatively large compared to the quantity of refrigerant gas, and it is typically necessary for the tube to be very long so that the gas has time to cool the product. The dispenser described in the aforementioned document is therefore relatively cumbersome and not ideal for a dispenser intended to be carried on the person.
Reference may also be made to document U.S. Pat. No. 4,584,847, which describes an assembly including a stick of lipstick and a device for cooling the stick. The stick is movably mounted relative to a holder so that it can be brought from a stowed position, in which the stick is disposed inside the holder, to a usage position in which the stick projects beyond the holder. The assembly includes a closure cap capable of being mounted on the holder when the stick is in the stowed position. This closure cap incorporates the cooling device.
The closure cap includes a base and a valved pressurized container holding a refrigerant gas. The pressurized container is mobile in the base so that actuation of the pressurized container valve is obtained by movement of the pressurized container relative to the base. The refrigerant gas is dispensed in doses in the direction of the lipstick. The majority of the refrigerant gas leaks through the gap left between the pressurized container and the base to allow the relative movement of the container with respect to the base. This assembly poses a problem in that the cooling effect cannot be obtained when the stick is in the usage position wherein it can be applied to a surface to be coated.
EP 0 459 508 describes a device in the form of a portable cooling kit for product doses supplied with the kit. However, the operation of such a kit involves numerous manual assembly steps for the user who wishes to make use thereof.
Reference may also be made to unpublished French Patent Application No. 0 552 654, which describes a cooling device for a product packaging device. The cooling device includes a pressurized container. The pressurized container holds a refrigerant product and a holder to receive the packaging device to be cooled. The holder is mounted on a valve with which the pressurized container is equipped so that the refrigerant product to be distributed is brought against an outer surface of the packaging device.
However, this cooling device is essentially applicable only for a product packaging device arranged in the form of a cup forming a reservoir filled with the product to be applied. It is in particular unsuitable for cooling a product intended to be applied by an applicator shaped as a ball or a rotating drum.
In light of the foregoing, one object of the invention is to overcome at least some of the aforementioned drawbacks associated with the use of conventional devices. Another object of the invention is to facilitate cooling of a product applied by a rotary type applicator in an arrangement of relatively small dimensions compatible with the manufacture of a product packaging and dispensing assembly that is of compact size and inexpensive to make.
One example of the invention includes a device to cool and apply a product. The device includes a pressurized container configured to hold a liquefied refrigerant product. The pressurized container includes a longitudinal axis and provided with a refrigerant product dispensing element. Also included are cooling means with at least one refrigerant product vaporization conduit connected in fluid communication with the refrigerant product dispensing element. The device further includes an applicator coating element with an applicator coating surface disposed adjacent to the vaporization conduit so as to exchange heat with the vaporization conduit while the refrigerant product is dispensed from the dispensing element into the vaporization conduit. The applicator coating element typically includes an applicator coating surface complimentary to an applicator so that the applicator may be coated with product. The applicator coating surface is itself intended and configured to be coated with product so as to coat the applicator.
Another example of the invention includes a packaging and dispensing assembly for a product including a product storage container equipped with an applicator and an applicator coating element with an applicator coating surface configured to coat the applicator with product fed from the product storage container. The assembly includes a product cooling device with a pressurized container holding a liquefied refrigerant product. The pressurized container includes a longitudinal axis and a refrigerant product dispensing element. The assembly further includes cooling means with at least one refrigerant product vaporization conduit connected in fluid communication to the refrigerant product dispensing element and disposed proximate to the applicator coating surface so as to exchange heat with the applicator coating surface.
According to one aspect of the invention, the assembly additionally includes a coating surface of a product applicator, and the vaporization conduit is disposed in relation to the coating surface in a manner so as to facilitate heat exchange therewith.
One example of the invention is particularly adapted to enable the application of a cooled product by means of an applicator including a rotating drum or ball type applicator in that, as the applicator rotates, the applicator can take up a cooled product from the applicator coating surface so that it can then be applied to the skin of a user.
According to one example of the invention, the vaporization conduit extends transversely, relative to the longitudinal axis of the container. The applicator coating surface can be generally concave in shape. The applicator coating element can be mounted transversely on the refrigerant product dispensing element.
For example, the coating element can be formed by the association of two plates, of which at least one is fashioned so as to form the vaporization conduit. The conduit can then be made by stamping or by machining one or both plates. In the present application, machining identifies processes of material removal via a rotating tool such as a vertical or horizontal end-mill. The vaporization conduit is typically disposed in relation to the applicator coating surface in a manner designed to facilitate heat exchange therewith. In one example, the applicator is a drum rotatably mounted relative to the applicator coating element, and the applicator coating element has a surface of a generally concave shape, which compliments the surface of the drum.
In one example, the drum is made of a deformable material and includes externally an arrangement of at least one boss. In this application, “deformable” means that the material can be significantly deformed by hand. For example, a deformable container would be capable of deformation in response to squeezing by hand so as to force the contents of the container out of the container. A deformable drum is deformable by the force exerted by hand when the drum is used to apply product so that the drum conforms to the shape of the surface to which it is applied. The boss can be formed on the external surface of the drum, or can be part of an internal structure which imparts a local deformation to the surface of the drum when the drum is pressed against a user's skin. The local deformation corresponds to the shape of an internal boss and functions to massage the user's skin.
In one example, the drum includes a rotary cylindrical support and a deformable application surface mounted around the rotary cylindrical support. In this case, the cylindrical support is provided with an arrangement of at least one boss configured to produce a localized deformation of the application surface during application of the product.
In addition, the application surface advantageously includes a median zone having a diameter greater than that of the cylindrical support such that when the cylindrical support rotates, the application surface is applied, on one side, against the support and, on the opposite side, is applied against the coating surface.
In one example, the drum is motorized. The assembly then includes a drive motor mechanically coupled to the drum. For example, the assembly can include a drum driving cylinder driven in rotation by the motor by means of a gear mechanism.
In one example, the driving cylinder is driven in rotation by the motor via a gear-motor system. In one example, the driving cylinder is driven in rotation by the motor via an overdrive system.
The packaging and dispensing assembly can include a switch that controls the operation of the motor. The switch can be designed to simultaneously control the operation of the refrigerant product dispensing element so as to cause the cooling device to be put into effect when the applicator rotates. In this manner, the applicator will rotate while refrigerant is dispensed from the refrigerant product dispensing element
According to a further example of the invention, the storage container for the product to be dispensed is made of a manually deformable material. In this case, the assembly can be disposed in a casing provided with a manually deformable zone at least partially surrounding the first product storage container. The casing can additionally include a recess to receive power supply means for the assembly. One example of a power supply means would be a conventional nine-volt battery and associated connections to connect the battery.
As should be apparent, the invention can provide a number of advantageous features and benefits. It is to be understood that, in practicing the invention, an embodiment can be constructed to include one or more features or benefits of embodiments, disclosed herein, but not others. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the preferred embodiments discussed herein are provided as examples and are not to be construed as limiting, particularly since embodiments can be formed to practice the invention that do not include each of the features of the disclosed examples.
A better understanding of the invention will be gained from reading the following description in conjunction with the accompanying figures. The figures are offered purely as a guide and by way of example, and in no way limit the invention.
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views.
For the purposes of the present description, the expression “cosmetic product” is understood to mean a product as defined in EC Council Directive 93/35/CEE dated 13 Jun. 1993. It will be noted, however, that the invention can also be used for packaging or dispensing any other type of product that one wishes to cool during application.
As shown in
The assembly 1 shown in
The refrigerant product stored in the second container 6′ can produce a lowering of the temperature of the product supplied by the first container 6. It includes, for example, a fluid, which is in a liquefied state when under certain pressure and which drops in temperature when it expands to the gaseous state. It is, thus, typically stored under pressure in the second container 6′. Typical fluids can be a hydrocarbon, for example butane 3, 2, dimethylether, or a freon, for example HFC-134A. However, other fluids are possible.
The pressurized container 6′ typically includes a cylindrical body 9 of which a first end 10 is closed and of which the opposite end 11 is provided with a cup 12 crimped onto a rolled rim 13 of the body 9. A dispensing valve 14 is typically retained by crimping in the cup 13. While the illustrated example depicts the body 9 of the pressurized container 6′ as cylindrical, other shapes are possible.
The valve 14 is preferably a proportioning type valve so as to allow a measured quantity of refrigerant product to be dispensed when it is actuated and to avoid completely discharging the container during a single actuation.
As can be seen in
The first product storage container 6, which is used for packaging of the product to be applied, includes a bottle or a pocket 15 with deformable wall. It can be made from a suitable thermoplastic resin or from a welded single-layer or multi-layer film, for example. It also typically includes a closed first end 16 and an open opposite end 17 forming a neck.
In the example shown in
In the example illustrated in
In the example illustrated in
The drum 20 is typically mounted transversely in the recess 7 of the casing 4 in relation to the lengthwise axis X-X′ of the assembly 1.
To this end, the distal end 3 of the casing 4 can be provided with a perforated cradle 24 (i.e., an applicator coating element with an applicator coating surface), which receives the drum 20. The cradle 24 is typically in fluid communication with the diffuser 18 or is formed by the diffuser 18 itself. The cradle 24 is intended and configured to be coated with product so as to impart the product to another surface. In the illustrated example, the cradle 24 extends transversely over a major portion of the distal end 3 of the casing 4. In the example shown in
When the drum 20 is inserted into the casing 4, it closes off the majority of the opening formed by the recess 7.
As will be further described in detail, the drum 20 is typically made of a resiliently deformable material, for example an elastomer. At rest, the outer surface of the drum 20 is flush with the distal end of the casing 4. However, in the example depicted in
In use, that is to say when the drum is applied against the skin of a user, the outer surface of the drum can be applied against a boss B as shown in
It is also possible to provide the applicator 8 with a drum 20 including an outer surface in which the bosses are directly fashioned. However, the arrangement in which a drum 20 is used having a deformable outer surface 23 designed to momentarily assume a bossed configuration at the time of application is advantageous in that it improves the coating of the applicator by the cradle 24.
In the embodiment illustrated in
A detailed structure of the applicator of the assembly 1 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 11. The drum 20 and the application surface 23 forming the outer peripheral surface of the drum 20 can be seen in
In addition to the drum 20, the applicator is provided with a driving cylinder 30 which is adapted to cooperate with the motor 27 and a cylindrical support 31 mounted around the driving cylinder. The drum 20 is typically disposed around the cylindrical support and the driving cylinder.
In the example shown in
Assembly is typically carried out by mounting the support 31 around the driving cylinder 30 and inserting the inner bead 34 of the support into the peripheral groove 33 of the cylinder 30, then mounting the drum 20 around the support 31 and inserting the inner beads 39 and 40 into the corresponding grooves 35 and 36 of the support 31.
In the example illustrated in
The toothed ring 43 is carried by a shoulder 44 which delineates, with the inner surface of cylinder 30, a recess L adapted to accommodate the motor 27.
In effect, as shown in
As shown in
On the opposite side of the casing 4, i.e., on the side of the opening referenced 26, the endshield 28 is configured to retain the drum 20 in the cradle 24. The endshield 28 is provided with a cylindrical extension 52 which, upon assembly, is inserted into the driving cylinder to ensure the alignment thereof.
This endshield 28 can also be provided with a quarter-turn locking mechanism. It is possible to have other types of locking mechanisms. The extension 52 will typically be provided with a screw thread or a stud 53, which engages in a counterpart groove formed in the casing 4 on the outer surface of the opening 26.
As indicated previously, and as shown in
As shown in
The general structure of the diffuser 18 will now be described in reference to FIGS. 13 to 23. The product diffuser 18 communicates with the first container 6 filled with product to be dispensed and with the second container 6′ filled with refrigerant product. For this purpose, as shown in
The diffuser 18 generally includes a first part 58 for admission of the product to be dispensed into the diffuser, visible in
The first part 58 is generally T-shaped (as shown in
The second part 59 is generally in the shape of a plate as shown in
The first part 58 is configured to be fitted on one of the principal faces 64 of the second cooling component 59 by inserting the connector 56 into the opening 61. As shown in
The diffuser 18 can be mounted under the cradle 24. In one variation, the diffuser 18 can be shaped so as to form the cradle 24. In this case, the parts 58 and 59 assume a concave configuration to compliment that of the recess 7.
The cradle 24 is in any case provided with a plurality of apertures designed to allow the product to emerge therefrom. During use, the product from the first container 6 is flowed through the first part 58, is distributed over the entire surface of the cradle 24. Furthermore, the diffuser 18 is cooled by expansion of the refrigerant product in the groove 65. Consequential cooling of the product circulating through the cradle 24 can be performed before the product is taken up by the drum 20.
Referring now to
In an alternate example, as shown in
It will also be noted that the two parts 58 and 59 forming the diffuser 18 are typically made of metal, for example brass or aluminium, so as to impart good heat conducting properties thereto. However, the first part 58 and second part 59 can also be made of a thermoplastic resin, or one can be made in a thermoplastic resin and the other in metal. In addition, the diffuser 18 can be over-molded directly with the first container 15.
Referring again to
Preferably, the recess 67 is formed under a removable cover 68 facilitating, on the one hand, replacement of the battery or batteries, or replacement or filling of the first and second containers 6 and 6′.
The casing 4 is typically provided with a switch 69 to start and stop the motor. Preferably, provision will also be made to equip the valve 14 of the second container 6′ with an additional electrical actuator controlled by the switch 69 so as to simultaneously cause the drum 20 to rotate and to distribute refrigerant product through the diffuser 18.
As shown in
By virtue of the arrangement just described, it is possible to dispense a cooled cosmetic product via a compact arrangement provided with a “roller” or “ball” type applicator, for example.
In order to apply a measured quantity of product, a user can operate the switch 69 and manually press on the body 4. Product is then delivered from the first container 6 to the diffuser 18 through the first part 58 so as to be diffused along the active surface of the diffuser 18.
Simultaneously, the product is cooled under the effect of the expansion of the refrigerant product in the diffuser 18. The cooled product then passes through the apertures formed in the cradle so as to be taken up by the rotating drum 20.
When the drum 20 is applied against the skin, the cooled product can be dispensed. In addition, during application, the drum 20 typically deforms to assume a bossed shape which, upon application, exerts a massaging action on the skin.
Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0512431 | Dec 2005 | FR | national |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60751970 | Dec 2005 | US |
